way back
Everything used to be better. However? Find out here!
GM History
Harley Earl, the 1st Chief Designer at GM
Planned obsolescence
GM Parade of Progress
Clay models, panoramic windshield, planned obsolescence, wings in the car design. Need I say more?
For the big money, products are made in such a way that you always want the latest version. If not, your old one will naturally cause problems. Built-in?
In order to introduce the public to the latest techniques, GM traveled with a caravan of vehicles to all kinds of places in America from the 1930s up to and including 1956. The Futurliner presentation buses have remained the best known.
The GM Motorama Motor Shows
Cadillac's Self Starter
The 1948 Pontiac
GM starts in 1949 with a real car show 'Transportation Unlimited'. This one goes later called 'Motorama' and is the impetus for the major international car fairs that we all know.
This model came on the market in 1941. Normally, each subsequent year was designed differently. Due to the outbreak of the war, the model was used until 1949 when a real new model was released.
The usefulness of the trade unions
The rise of the unions
The employees are tired of being seen as dirty all the time. Working harder for less money.
The 1937 GM sit down strikes
The employees are fed up. They stop work and do not go outside but stay with the machines. That way they have more power. This works!
Trade unions, communism and the future
Unions have done good things but can also be a danger.
The Ford Massacre
In 1931, 4 people died during a demonstration at the Ford plant in Dearborn on the coldest day of that winter.
The 40s
Rosie the river
With the men at the front, the ladies had to being recruited for the jobs in the factories. This was the beginning of the integration of men and women in the workplace.
The car industry and WWII
Because Detroit was already a mature industrial city, the industry there was used for the production of war equipment. The arsenal of democracy, providing tools for victory!
Driving after WWII
Great prosperity, lots of money but too little steel make new cars scarce
Technic
The first attempts at automatic shifting
Oldsmobile introduced the Hydra-matic with the slogan: Look! No need to clutch! It's a simple as 1-2-3.
The Hydra-matic
Just after the introduction of the hydra-matic, WWII broke out. During these years the hydra-matic was deployed and after the war it was marketed with the text: Battle Tested!
SAE Society of Automotive
motivation Engineers
Organization for setting standards for everything that moves with a motorcycle.
USA History
The Ford Model T and the first roads in the USA
The rise of cars also resulted in better roads, sidewalks, traffic rules and much more.
The Selden Patent
George Selden, as a patent attorney, had seen that the automobile had a golden future. He wanted to draw up a patent for this. After many years he had succeeded. He just wasn't counting on Henry Ford...
The Drive In Theater
In large areas, people can gather to watch movies from their cars. The first opened in 1933.
The Willow Run factory
From 1953 through 2010, GM built some of its automatics in the old Ford bomber factory, a factory with an eventful history.
moonshine, nascar,
Prohibition and ATU
Prohibition means a lot of illegal liquor is being distilled. Fast guys with fast cars drove the booze to the speakeasies. After the law was lifted, they continued to race, this is what Nascar came out of.
Kelley Blue Book
In 1926, booklets with residual values are published for the first time. The demand from the market was enormous and the company still exists today.
National Automobile
Dealer Association
In 1917, NADA was founded to give car dealers one common voice. One of the many services is the Official Used Car Guide. In addition, they were the link between factory and dealer and between dealer and customer.
History
The license plate
The Netherlands was one of the countries that was the first to introduce number plates. The cars were faster than the police and in order to be able to fine the cars they had to be recognizable.
From steam to spark plug and patent problems II
Fuel engines are taking over from steam engines.
Nice collection of videos from YouTube
YouTube offers so many great videos that you can spend evenings and evenings on them. I already have a nice collection for you.
From steam to spark plug and patent problems III
Electric vehicles are not just for today!
From steam to spark plug and patent problems I
The USA likes to let the world know that everything started in the land of unlimited possibilities. Is that true? It starts with steam.
From steam to spark plug and patent problems IV
What happened from year to year in the world of technology?